Vice President remembers Arun Jaitley at DU event

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Friday remembered former Union minister Arun Jaitley as an outstanding leader with deep knowledge and exceptional debating skills, saying his strong belief in democracy enabled him to engage with different viewpoints.

Addressing the third edition of the “Shri Arun Jaitley Memorial Debate” at Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Radhakrishnan said Jaitley never hesitated to debate issues or listen to views different from his own.

“Arun Jaitley always liked debates because his belief in democracy was so strong that he never hesitated to debate anything or listen to the views of others. That is his greatness,” he said. Radhakrishnan said Jaitley was a great leader known for his debating abilities and had studied at SRCC for three years. “In his name and in his memory, this debate has been held,” he said.

The Vice President also congratulated SRCC on completing 100 years, describing its journey as a long and fruitful one. He said the college would continue to develop in the coming years and assured it of his support.

Recalling Jaitley's parliamentary interventions, Radhakrishnan said his articulation was “incomparable” and he possessed deep knowledge of subjects he spoke about.

“That is why when he used to give answers in Parliament, there would be pin-drop silence because he would answer every aspect of that question,” he said.

Jaitley's wife Sangeeta Jaitley, who was also present at the event, recalled his close association with SRCC and said the college had given him some of the best years of his life.

“My husband had the best three years of his life in this college. He would always tell me that one day he would show me the spots in the college where they would hang out. That day never came,” she said.

Sangeeta Jaitley said she now visited the college more frequently for invitations and events and tried to imagine what it was like during her husband's student days.

Recalling Jaitley's association with the college's governing board, she said he became a member in 2001 and was excited about bringing changes to the institution.

“He loved to debate,” she said, adding that his mother had told her that during his three years at SRCC and three years at the Faculty of Law, he did not ask his parents for pocket money as he earned money through debating prizes.

She said Jaitley was among the good debaters of his time and later turned the skill of debating into his profession as a lawyer and politician. “I think it is a fit tribute to him by hosting this debate in his honour,” she said.

Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh also attended the event.